House Speaker Gordon D. Fox is backing a package of economic-policy bills that would include replacing the R.I. Economic Development Corp. with a more-limited R.I. Commerce Corporation controlled by a new commerce secretary. A Senate plan seeks a rebranded EDC but would not form a new secretariat.

Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee so far has resisted calls to dismantle the agency, instead focusing on in-house changes he says have the EDC on the right track.

Comments

It would seem that the RIPEC Study involved both the business community and public input so if we are to promote "business enterprises" perhaps the Governor and the General Assembly might actually take the advice of our business organizations and do something to encourage more business activities, more business support, and less governmental interference. But then this is Rhode Island….

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